Cambodia: Equitable Cambodia's report reveals rights violations and environmental impacts caused by mining companies; companies respond
Equitable Cambodia has produced a report entitled “A Snapshot of the Gold Mining Industry in Cambodia: Rights Violation, and Environmental Damage” which provides a snapshot of some of the most pressing rights and environmental issues related to the commercial gold mining industry. The report looks at four case studies of areas that are witnessing a “corporatization” of gold mining. Greater priority is being given to larger companies to have access to Cambodia’s gold mineral wealth, commonly at the expense of small-scale, local, artisanal operations…
The report focuses on gold mining areas in Preah Vihear, Ratanakiri, Mondulkiri, and Kratie. Special attention is given to how Indigenous Cambodians are being affected with the recent upscaling of mining operations, including encroachments into traditional indigenous forested areas, and broader patterns of deforestation affecting local livelihoods.